Rane slams Uddhav, terms him an ‘accidental CM’

The Union Minister says Shiv Sena had reached its present heights because of leaders like Eknath Shinde and past workers like himself

Launching a blistering attack on Shiv Sena president and former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Union Minister and senior BJP leader Narayan Rane on Friday said Mr. Thackeray had been an “accidental CM” who had no contribution in building either his party nor towards Maharashtra.

Mr. Rane, who is Mr. Thackeray’s bitterest political adversary, lashed out at the Sena chief’s October 5 Dasara rally speech at Mumbai’s Shivaji Park, alleging that there were no ideological principles to guide the cadre except a continuous hurtling of abuse against senior BJP leaders such as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.

“During Balasaheb Thackeray’s time we used to be inspired by ideas which used to guide us. Today I have reached where I am because of Saheb’s ideas. Contrast that with Uddhav Thackeray’s speech, which contained nothing but invective,” alleged Mr. Rane, the Union Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, speaking in Mumbai.

In an unbridled verbal attack on Mr. Thackeray, Mr. Rane warned that the Sena chief would be responsible should any law and order situation arise in Maharashtra as the BJP would not henceforth bear jibes on senior party leaders by the Uddhav camp.

“What is your [Uddhav Thackeray’s] worth? You have become CM merely by accident. You were present in the Mantralaya [State Secretariat] for barely two-and-half-hours during your two-and-half-year term as CM,” said the BJP leader.

Remarking that Mr. Thackeray had done nothing for the welfare of farmers in the State, had utterly failed to stimulate industry and had not concerned himself with party building, Mr. Rane claimed that the Shiv Sena had reached its present heights because of leaders like current Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and past workers like himself.

Mr. Rane had exited the Sena in 2005 following an acrimonious dispute with Mr. Thackeray.